Southern California - Please be CAREFUL if you ride Palomar

I was perusing some threads and videos on a car forum and I was appalled to see how some of these jack asses drive.

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=172888

Watch the first and second of the videos linked in that thread. You will see some poor cyclist almost get taken out by people racing up and down Palomar.

Use caution when riding in the canyons that seem to be frequented by moronic drivers !

Use caution when riding in the canyons that seem to be frequented by moronic drivers !

All canyons are...

This is no worse than a soccer mom on her cellphone trying to feed the baby in the backseat swerving all over the place. At least with these morons you can hear them from a mile away rev'ing...

Check back tomorrow. I reported the post. I moderate a car forum, and can tell you that most car forums don't allow such posts because they are liable for encouraging illegal activities.

btw I don't mind people having fun, but it has to be within reason. I love cruising the canyons in a car just as much as on a bike, but if I want to actually drive fast, there are organizations around here that will let you drive hog wild in a safe, controlled environment for as little as $20.

its' NOTHING NEW, you can hear those types of guys coming up the mountains, you'll have a few turns head start to get off the to side. Gota share the road even w/ jackasses.

I USED to race up Palomar few years ago with my turbocharged car. I know the rush you get from those tight turns but it's a hell alot funner on my roadie. Crack at me all you want, I won't be offended cuz it's the past. I used to street race and all that other good stuff. I'll be surprised if I'm the only one that was hot roddin in the younger years. Hell I'm still young, I'd STILL have my hot rod (import) if it wasn't stolen from me on my b-day few years ago.

If you climb palomar, you have the motorcycles and weekend warrior rally cross wannabe drivers to worry about. BOTH you can hear coming from 3+ turns away. Same goes for any tight narrow canyon road. Honestly, most of those guys have more car control then some random person on PCH on the cel phone or checking out the eye candy and ver into the bike lanes. USUALLY the guys that drive that road KNOW how to drive or they are just stupid for going up that road. I'd rather see them go up then go DOWN the South grade.

its' NOTHING NEW, you can hear those types of guys coming up the mountains, you'll have a few turns head start to get off the to side. Gota share the road even w/ jackasses.

I USED to race up Palomar few years ago with my turbocharged car. I know the rush you get from those tight turns but it's a hell alot funner on my roadie. Crack at me all you want, I won't be offended cuz it's the past. I used to street race and all that other good stuff. I'll be surprised if I'm the only one that was hot roddin in the younger years. Hell I'm still young, I'd STILL have my hot rod (import) if it wasn't stolen from me on my b-day few years ago.

If you climb palomar, you have the motorcycles and weekend warrior rally cross wannabe drivers to worry about. BOTH you can hear coming from 3+ turns away. Same goes for any tight narrow canyon road. Honestly, most of those guys have more car control then some random person on PCH on the cel phone or checking out the eye candy and ver into the bike lanes. USUALLY the guys that drive that road KNOW how to drive or they are just stupid for going up that road. I'd rather see them go up then go DOWN the South grade.


I've seen the same thing up Old Topanga numerous times, if people think this is rare they are closing their eyes and ears too often.

Oh it's definitely not rare. I used to drive the canyons all the time, but I considered myself a conservative driver. Despite the tempting fun, I slowed down at blind corners and never drove at the limit of traction. With cliffs on one side and possible head-on traffic around every corner, it's just not worth the risk.

Everyone here is actually pretty calm about this which shows maturity. I love cars and live for a good drive but I just see to much risk involved in this stuff so I now only press my luck at open track events. Its far more fun at a track anyhow as you really can go to the max where as you only can go so fast in the canyons. These clowns use a camera to post proof of their stupidity and enjoy telling stories of going 150mph on the back roads. When camera's are rolling people do really dumb things to show up and prove their manhood. Years ago when I went driving I went at night (really late) when people were sleeping and when the hazard was me crashing into a animal crossing the road and not a man on a bike.

This guy in question crashed his car into the hillside a while back and flew across the road out of control. In that case getting out of the way or off to the side wont do you any good. He claims hes a "pro" driver like the rest of them but he cant find his rear with both hands. Thats was his 4th crash on palamar so hes going to kill someone sooner or later.

Truth is we cant get away from them and its never going to change. I just dont ride canyons on weekends because we all know these dinguses are out there.

I think the thing to see here is that if you see a group of Porsches and Mercedes cars racing up and down the hill on Palamar you just should take note and realize they are out being ********.

I've seen the same thing up Old Topanga numerous times, if people think this is rare they are closing their eyes and ears too often.


Uh? do you even know where Old Topanga is?

Whenever I ride up Palomar, I go through periods when I wish I was in a car.

I've only rode up there a few times but have always done it in the morning and have encountered very little traffic. I guess it only takes one car though.

what's the road like? shoulder? no shoulder? blind corners, etc?

i'll vouch for the dumbass drivers on palomar since i was one of them. about 10 years ago, i crashed my CBR on the same hairpin - twice - on palomar. but, i've also been a cyclist for 20 years, so i've always taken extra care around other cyclists. i know the same can't be said for 99% of other drivers, though.

what's the road like? shoulder? no shoulder? blind corners, etc?

yes.

This has been going on for years – see the link below. The road bikes (motorcycles) are the worst and drive the residents crazy. The old adage of a few bad apples strikes true here. Personally, I won’t ride up Palomar on a weekend anymore. The climb is infested with crazy sport motorcycles. If you can afford to take a day off during the week, you can make this climb and not run into any traffic.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/04/21/news/inland/23_42_424_20_05.txt

If you're climbing Palomar South Grade on a weekend, try to do it in the wee hours of the morning. In my limited experience, the motorcyclists sleep in enough that if you hit the climb right at sunrise, you're pretty much left alone.

and if you can't make it during the week, just go up first thing in the morning on the weekends. the early morning motorcycles are generally the sunday joyride types who aren't racing themselves up the mountain.